Introduction of E10 petrol could help UK meet transport carbon targets

LowCVP says the introduction of petrol with a 10% bioethanol content (E10) would be one of the most cost-effective means of rapidly reducing carbon emissions from road transport currently available to the UK.

In support of the UK government’s decision to increase the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, the LowCVP published a report: Successfully Deploying E10 Petrol.

The expert group concluded that E10 would make an important contribution to the UK’s efforts to reduce CO2 from road transport, by displacing 10% of fossil petrol with renewable bioethanol in transport by 2020.

However, its introduction needs to be thoroughly and carefully planned to ensure effective market transition.

All modern petrol cars are designed, certified and optimised to use E10.  But there are still a small number of older non-classic cars, particularly those produced in the 1990s and before, which are not warranted for E10 use. Therefore, E10 petrol must be introduced and labelled as a completely new fuel grade.

UK fuel already contains up to 5% bioethanol. LowCVP believes converting the regular grade to 95 E10 would be the most cost effective and rapid way to introduce the new lower carbon fuel.

To read the full report, click here.